The following text was translated from an ancient hebrew version of the Sumerian legend of Lilith (called Lilitu in Sumerian). Lilith is an agricultural/fertility goddess, her myth is found in over 100 different religions and has numerous variatians on her name (Lilit, Lolita, Lilitu, Lilith). For example in the ben-Sira version of the Bible Lilith is the first wife of Adam and in Greek mythology she is the goddess of the dark moon (Artemis is the goddess of the full moon).

There are 30 stanzas and 150 lines in this epic poem. I have taken several poetic liberties in order to make the text easier to read (the translated version uses many archaic words that are rarely used).

Before the stars were bornBefore people built great citiesThe great mountain Atlen shookAnd bled fiery bloodAs it gave birth to Lilitu

The land all around burnedMany animals and people diedWhen Lilitu opened her eyesLilitu saw the ashes of her birthAnd wept tears like rain

Lilitu's tears became rivers and streamsFlowers grew where Lilitu walkedTrees grew where Lilitu satThe ashes became fertile soilAnd an orchard became Lilitu's home

In Lilitu's orchard many animals arePeople came to live in paradiseLilitu gave them grain and taught them to harvestLilitu made bread and beerThe people rejoiced, ate and drank

One day a great prince came to the land of AtlenHe spied Lilitu and wooed herBut Lilitu spurned and rejected himThe great prince became very angryHe spied two lions and killed them both

Lilitu wept for the lionsShe cradled their heads in her armsThe lions awoke to her tearsThe lions licked away her tears and became strongThey became Lilitu's loyal friends

The great prince saw thisAnd again he wooed LilituBut Lilitu became a birdShe flew away from himAngry, the prince began hunting birds

Lilitu saw this and was upsetTo spite the prince she spat at himAnd mated with a serpentLilitu gave birth very quicklyHer child was like no other

The child had six armsThe child had a serpent's tailThe child was very strongLilitu called the child a marilituThe Marilitu attacked the great prince

The great prince and the marilitu foughtThe fought day and nightFor night after nightAnd day after dayBut neither could win the fight

Lilitu saw this and mated againAnother marilitu was bornAnd another and anotherTwo hundred and sixteen were bornIn fear the great prince ran away

The people of the orchard rejoicedThe marilitu's farmed the landThe marilitu's protected the peopleBut the great prince swore vengeanceHe cursed the mountain Atlen and its land

Atlen became angry at this curseThe mountain and the land shookAtlen shook and bled and criedIts fiery blood made firesAnd its tears made floods

Afraid Lilitu turned into a great birdShe grasped people in her feetShe carried animals on her backThe marilitu's and the lions carried people tooTogether they fled the land of Atlen

Lilitu went west and eastLilitu went north and southFinally she came to dry landThe people thanked Lilitu greatlyThe people built statues in her honour

Lilitu wept for her lost homeHer tears formed two riversThe rivers joined togetherThey flowed into the oceanThe people grew grain by the river

The people grew great orchardsThey built buildings and towers of stoneThe people grew healthy and the land richMerchants from far places travelled thereNews of the wealth of the land grew

The great prince heard of the landHe sent his heralds to inquire of its ladyBut Lilitu fed his heralds to her lionsThe great prince sent an armyBut the marilitu's destroyed his army

Finally the great prince wentWhen he saw the beautiful orchardsWhen he saw the six-armed marilitusThe great prince knew the lady was LilituIn fear he disguised himself as a woman

The great prince went to Lilitu's templeHis disguise fooled the peopleBut the lions knew his scentThe two lions warned LilituSo Lilitu prepared a trap

Lilitu summoned thirty-six young menShe filled a hall with thirty-six silver plattersShe ordered thirty-six beasts slaughteredAt last she was readyShe invited the people to the feast

People came from all over the landThe great prince came tooThe great prince arrived in disguiseBut Lilitu knew him eagerlyShe welcomed him as an honoured guest

The great prince accepted her hospitalityHe sat before all the peopleThe thirty-six young men were brought forth"Please choose a man," Lilitu commandedNot wanting to be rude the great prince chose one

Lilitu bade the great prince to sit beside the young manThe silver platters were brought forthThe people feasted on the meat of thirty-six beastsGreat gifts were brough forthLilitu gave the gifts to the great prince

Confused the great prince acceptedThen the feast was finally overCurious, the great prince questioned Lilitu"Do you always give such grand gifts to strangers?""Only when someone is married," Lilitu answered

Realizing what had happened the great prince became angryHe ripped off his disguiseHe drew his sword and his dagger"Why have you made me marry this man?" he demanded"Because you can never marry me," Lilitu answered

Enraged the great prince attacked LilituThe two fought endlessly for Lilitu was very strongWhenever the prince would get too boldLilitu would change into a birdThe great prince fell to the ground and wept in despair

The great prince professed his loveHe promised that he would never quitHe prepared to cut his own throatFinally Lilitu grew tired of this gameShe felt pity for the great prince

"I will grant you one kiss," Lilitu declaredDesperate the great prince acceptedThe moment the great prince's kiss had been dealtHis body flooded with life and then deathSo great was the pleasure of one kiss that he died

Lilitu wept for the great princeBut the great prince remained deadSaddened Lilitu knew she could never loveNo mortal man could taste her kiss and liveHer tears brought life, but her kiss brought death

The fiery blood is obviously lava from a volcano, Atlen was evidently volcanic.

Etlen or Eten is the Egyptian word for "paradise". It is also the same word used to describe "Eden" and also "Atlantis". The Lilith myth seems to be a combination of both myths, likely before it split into separate ideas.

Fact: Ashes make good soil for planting.

In Buddhism, lotus flowers Buddha grew wherever Buddha walked.

Its important to note that Lilith doesn't seduce the prince. He merely falls in love with her beauty and pursues her.

The two lions are frequently found flanking Lilith in sculptures.

Sumeria (where modern Iraq is now) is the first location that domesticated grain was grown, and also the invention of beer and bread.

Lilith is often depicted as having the feet and wings of a bird.

The serpent in this myth could be the basis for the serpent found in the biblical version of Adam/Eve. Ancient believers in Judeo-Christianity borrowed heavily from previous religions in order to create a new religion, but often demonized symbols of other religions.

Sculptures of mariliths are extremely rare. Many were destroyed because newer religions believed they were demons.

Six seems to be a sacred number to Lilith. The mariliths have six arms, the 36 platters and the 216 mariliths that were born.

Every religion has a great flood myth of some kind.

The two rivers is believed to be the Tigris and the Euphrates, which stretch all the way from the Persian Gulf to modern Turkey.

The towers mentioned are believed to be the ziggurats found in Iraq.

Lilith's kiss of death is the source of the succubus myth, but its interesting to note that it kills men based upon the idea of "too much life/too much pleasure". Its also interesting to note the sadness, for the story seems to be a lament for the goddess and her loneliness.

Jeanne Guyon (1648-1717) wrote powerfully about the need for an intimate relationship with Almighty God, including this: He who has a pure heart will never cease to pray; and he who will be constant in prayer, shall know what it is to have a pure heart.

PRAISE

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